Wisdom Teeth label-head Facta rounds off the year with a two part ode to the dancefloor, pitting house and 2 step beats against warping FM synths à la Errorsmith and Mark Fell. ‘Doves’ picks up where 2019’s ‘Rose Red’ left off: all melting, pitch-bending synths that fizz and ping unpredictably around a solid 4x4 beat. On the flip, ‘MPH’ tugs on the heart strings with a plasticine MIDI melody, percussive vocal chops and a tearjerking set of high-gloss pads.
"I have wanted to put this release out since I first heard v1 of WITT. Hunter Reed from the moment he joined the EA fold has gone from new artist to essential part of the EA cohort. Praise be Hunter Reed."
Commodo is back with ‘Stakeout’ — a standout three-track follow-up to recent EP, ‘Loan Shark’.
‘Stakeout’ picks up where ‘Loan Shark’ left off, tapping back into the conceptual, crime-ridden Wild West first imagined across tracks like ‘Contraband’ and ‘Hot Pursuit’; “If anyone is working on a 22nd century film noir at the moment, this would make the perfect soundtrack” wrote Bandcamp back in June.
This sentiment echoes across the ‘Stakeout’ tracklist, which again details tracks that marry precision bass-weight and deft, nimble sampling techniques with nuanced flashes of genius; Commodo is no ordinary producer. From the swirling unease and sharp crackle of the title-track to the oddball, industrial swing of ‘Transit’ and menacing, Batman-style lurch of EP closer ‘Crooked’ Law’, ‘Stakeout’ forms the fascinating concluding chapter of Commodo’s latest Black Acre odyssey.
'Prole Art Threat' is producer Anthoney Hart's second LP for Planet Mu under his East Man alias, after 2018's well received debut 'Red White & Zero'. It brings together a set of MCs from all over London, Darkos and Eklipse from East London and Lyrical Strally from near Feltham who were on the first album, Ny Ny and Mic Ty also from East London, Streema and 'Vision Crew' member Whack Eye from Lewisham plus Fernando Kep, an MC from the burgeoning Brazil grime scene. They work across a cohesive set of tight riddims forged from thoughtful amalgams of grime, dancehall and drum & bass.
a1. East Man & Streema - Know Like Dat
a2. East Man & Mic Ty - Everybody Knows
a3. East Man & Fernando Kep - Ouroboros
a4. East Man & Lyrical Strally - Ten Ton Riddim
a5. East Man - Boys
a6. East Man & Ny Ny - Who Am I?
b1. East Man - East Man Theme (reprise)
b2. East Man & Whack Eye - Wow How?
b3. East Man & Eklipse - Ease Up
b4. East Man & Darkos Strife - Look & Listen (Part 2)
One of the UK's freshest emerging dance music labels, responsible for stalwart releases from Special Request and Nightwave, return for their 19th release.
The succinct beats of Pugilist have perked the ears of labels like Whities, 3024 and Trule to name but a few. And having previously featured on volume one of the label's new 'EleVAte' compilation series, among artists like Otik, Appleblim and Commix, he returns to the imprint for his first, full four-tracker; 'Siphon'.
The title track, Siphon, blasts through with authentic jungle chops, scattered together asymmetrically like a beautiful chaotic tapestry.
'Regrowth' is a swung garage stepper, jammed live on a 909 with earthquaking low-end frequencies that warmingly morph from underneath.
On remix duties of 'Siphon', is no other than Lobster Theremin alumni, Coco Bryce. With surreal, microprocessing of the heavyweight blows from the original, he also resamples time-stretched speech samples to devastating effect.
'Nightshade' closes out the record with its steadfast amen rinse-out and pokey 808 subs, concluding one of the most forward-thinking and new-school jungle records for the label, all the while serving as an exemplary ode to the old-school.
The fourth release on Schloss Records comes from British multi-instrumentalist and polyrhythmic wizard A Psychic Yes (Timothy Crombie). While most of us are even confused as to where to place a hi-hat, Crombie carefully and effortlessly arranges a bouquet of bleepy bloops, melodic U-turns and chaotic ideas, welding together a beautiful soundscape that makes perfect sense. Or as one friend described it: “his music tastes like strawberries”. A Psychic Yes has previously released music on Kalahari Oyster Cult and Tech Startup. The B-side features a lush remix from Bristolian DJ and producer Hodge. Artwork, as always, by Schloss co-founder Ida Ekblad. That Swamp Feeling is mastered by Matt Karmil.
FKOFv004 is the third physical release from FKOF Records in 2020, following WZ’s FKOFv003 in January and the 2x 12” FKOF10 album celebrating 10 Years of FatKidOnFire earlier this summer. We open with the heavyweight Chad Dubz and Biome collab – ‘455’ – that’s been inspiring gunfingers and screwfaces around the world since being teased online a few months ago. It’s everything you’d hope the combination of two of 140bpm’s finest talents would create: incredible synths, crushing percussive power and atmospherics for days. Pure weight.
“A2 is another Chad Dubz collab, this time featuring Uprise Audio’s boss Eddy Seven on the buttons. ‘Strictly’ has been doing regular damage on the FKOF Sessions show on Subtle Radio and is exactly what its sample says it is – ‘strictly for the sound system’. We signed this one for the mad switch up and the sub that hits harder than a rollercoaster. You’ll know what we mean when you hear this on the system. Absolute rudeness.
“The B-side opens with the only Chad Dubz original mix on the record; the relentlessly effervescent ‘Nilaari’. It’s a production on the rowdier side of what we’d normally sign, but we knew we had to have it when Chad sent it our way. You’ll need a lie down after this one!
“We conclude by welcoming the legendary DJ Madd to FKOF Records for his debut, putting an old school, stripped back flip on ‘455’. The remix evokes the brooding, dangerous dubstep sound from classic Minimal Mondays sets back in the day on Rinse – or the halfstep vibe from 2010-13. It’s a fitting end to what we feel is an incredible record. We hope you agree!
Hessle Audio welcome Laksa to the label with three tracks of rowdy and forward-thinking dance music, following his last release on Timedance in September.On the A-side, 'Fire Kit' sees the London-based producer and DJ approaching his sound from a different direction, with dancehall infused percussion offset by enveloping layers of sub-bass warmth at 95bpm.The B side jacks up the tempo with a raucous energy as the temperature drops to below freezing. Basslines rumble in 'Belly Brocka' and 'T's Tent' like an approaching storm and snares lash through the mix like ice picks, with the broken rhythmic energy driving the dance forward in 2021 and beyond.Running the club night and monthly NTS show 're:lax' with re:ni, Laksa has been consistently pushing bass mutations since his early EPs on Beneath's Mistry label. A Bristol bass bobbler at heart, his hybrid sound has found a home on many respected labels such as Timedance, Ilian Tape and Whities, cementing his place amongst the latest UK talent.
Introduced by a mutual friend, A/T/O/S started creating music together. Their first creation, 'A Taste Of Struggle' was quickly picked up by dubstep pioneer Mala, who signed them to his label DEEP MEDi. Their debut release received an early spin by BBC 6 Music's Mary Anne Hobbs and impressive remixes by Skream and Commodo.
Their upcoming album 'waterman', is the 3rd on DEEP MEDi, following their self-titled debut 'A/T/O/S' and the follow-up 'Outboxed'.
'waterman' once again sees A/T/O/S exploring new territories with their formula of exciting beats and powerful vocals, accompanied by Michiel De Malsche on the keys as their 'secret, not so secret' member in the studio & on stage.
As 2020 draws to a close the Surface Tension Series reaches its apex with part III, containing a like number of compositions which continue the sound refined and alloyed in the preceding volumes.
Following a jaw-dropping LP on Ghostly International in 2018, multifarious rave authority Tadd Mullinix reanimates his hi-tek junglist guise X-Altera for an EP on Sneaker Social Club. It’s a perfect fit between project and label, as Mullinix exercises his fearsome knowledge and grasp of foundational jungle and drum & bass on an imprint with strong form in the field (from seminal Foul Play works reissued to contemporary cut ups by Dead Man’s Chest, Etch and more).
Rather than straight-up revivalist sounds, as X-Altera Mullinix is more concerned with the original pioneering spirit of early jungle, hardcore and 90s techno. He absorbs and channels the sounds and processes of these influences with a razor-sharp attention to detail, but crucially he stitches his tracks together in a truly idiosyncratic way. Far from linear rollers, the pieces on New Harbinger EP play out more like suites that follow unpredictable paths and take in some stunning scenery en route. Doused in Detroit’s hi-tek soul, chiseled with the avant-garde angles of jungle’s breakbeat science and weaving a tangled narrative to rival a sci-fi epic, it’s a divine blend of rugged and raw rave music that can draw you deep inside and take you far away.
X-Altera is but the latest in a long line of crucial projects from Mullinix, who has been transmitting mind-boggling electronics from Ann Arbor since the late 90s. He’s previously delved into the ruffest ragga jungle with Todd Osborn as Soundmurderer & SK1, dropped devastating acid house bombs as James T Cotton (now steered towards a more focused strain of techno as JTC), delved into EBM and industrial as Charles Manier and helped set a blueprint for leftfield hip hop beats as Dabrye. With an unerring quality barometer matched by his studious knowledge and understanding of rave culture, his work is a continuous gift to many different strains of dance music.
In many ways X-Altera feels like the logical summation of all Mullinix’s prior investigations; unrepentantly futuristic music sporting the best qualities of the past, clad in proudly ‘ardcore body armour and thus ticking every box going for Sneaker Social Club.
We return with a LOST DUBPLATE from Bristols finest KAHN, alongside Sector 7 head honcho Boofy. Imhotep has been doing the rounds for many a year beautifully showcasing Kahns raw yet hypnotizing sound. Boofy returns with an energized, hypnotic remix the way only Boofy can do . Strictly sound system vibes!
Rob Smith aka RSD is a man that should need no introduction - from pioneering trip hop and the foundations of the Bristol sound in the late 80s with Smith & Mighty to writing some of the biggest dubstep tracks of all time under his RSD alias - not to mention killing it to this day with his impeccable DJ sets and fire dubplates - Rob is nothing short of a certified legend. It is a great honour to welcome him back to Foundation Audio with 2 MASSIVE cuts for the next in our 10” series.
'Old Fish' is a rework of his classic 2007 tune 'Kingfisher' aptly titled 'Old Fish' 'Because it's a version of an old tune... and it stinks!!!'
'Shell Fish' was going to be called 'New Fish' because it's based on the Kingfisher template but changed to 'Shell Fish' when I added samples from Ghost In The Shell' says the man himself.
Any fan of genre-smashing sound system music outta Europe at this point simply must be aware of Schlachthofbronx. Synthesizing bass music traditions and experimentalism from their home continent, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean, the Munich duo are sound system staples, with a relentless (pre-covid) touring schedule and a long-running residency on the 60,000-watt Elemental Wave rig at their legendary Blurred Vision night. Absolutely no one makes omnivorous hybrid rave-club-dub-tech like the boys from Munich, and after the universal love received for their first ZamZam, “Dun Dem” b/w “Soundbad” we couldn’t wait to get into a next chapter.
The A side began life as a Blurred Vision tool, gradually molding itself into a proper tune. “Akkord” brings heavy dub reggae energy and mystically marries it to cumbia-laced accordions, an ultra-sick and darkly melodic bassline, and their patented punishing 4/4 matrix. A filtered vocal snippet warps itself into pure rhythmic texture, anchored by a clanging metal “snare” and layer upon layer of lush, saturated synths. All these elements fling into glorious, beatless suspension in full-spectrum reverb space, tension and release artistry expressed through three massive drops for the skankers.
“Shell” is driven by filtering white noise that swarms and swirls overhead like low-flying propeller blades over 808 village percussion. Throbbing single-note sub bass and fist-pumping kick form the sweltering, locked-down beat stage for Doubla J, a friend and collaborator from Costa Rica. He’s the MC in your head, liminal hype-man inside the record, at once calling for, calling out, and existing within the tune and the dark recesses of the echo chamber.
Scuffed Recordings line up their second vinyl sampler, featuring four heavy-hitting club tracks spanning the last year of the label’s output. The release sees tracks from Dubrunner, Heritage, Stones Taro, and Joe Craven pressed to vinyl for the first time, in a limited run of white labels.
Kicking off the release is Dubrunner’s ‘Zoya’s Trip’, originally released in December 2019 on the Scuffed Presents 003 release. Zoya’s Trip has become one of the most popular tracks in the Scuffed catalogue, spending six months in Beatport’s Leftfield House & Techno top 10, and seeing DJ support from the likes of Anja Schneider, Moxie, and Oneman.
Up next is ‘The Revelation’ from Brighton-based duo Heritage, taken from their EP of the same name. With its bass-heavy, breaks-driven beat, The Revelation picked up plays on BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Boiler Room, and saw coverage in Mixmag and DJ Mag.
On the B-side Scuffed veteran Stones Taro steps up with the weighty ‘To Rave’. As one of the most long-standing members of the label’s roster, Kyoto-based Stones Taro has become a firm fan favourite with his idiosyncratic take on UK rave music.
Closing out the release is Joe Craven’s ‘Staring At Your Feet Or Mine’, a percussive UK techno stepper originally taken from the Bristol-based producer’s debut release.
After an 8 year hiatus, No Comply are back with a bang, serving up a true 'root and branch' release. Dubstep juggernauts N-Type and Kromestar pertain to the first part of that adage, providing a high pressure, melodic remix of Cloud Chamber.
Ever eager to feature new talent, No Comply turn to the talents of saxophonist, Jake Marlow. His stellar performance across the two tracks belies the fact of this being his vinyl debut.
Limited to 300 copies worldwide, this unique collaboration is not to be slept on.
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